𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 (𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚) || hsmtmts au

21. the exception

N I N I 'S P O V

i clear my throat involuntarily, my eyes wide, "oh, um..sorry, i didn't.."

"oh, nini!! sorry, i didn't see you," gina says, pulling away and turning around. i can't help but notice the way ricky's arm is wrapped around her shoulder as she gives me her classic prom queen smile, as if she weren't just making out with my best friend seconds before i walked out here. for some reason i clench my teeth just a little as i smile back-i really couldn't tell you why.

"i didn't know you guys were..yeah."

"oh," she laughs, "yeah, i guess we are."

ricky nods, but i don't miss the way he tries to hide the fact that he's wiping his mouth off with the back of his hand (after a kiss?).

"well, you know e.j and i are always looking for double date partners, why don't you guys come hang out with us next weekend?" i blurt out.

"we'd love to, right babe?" gina turns and asks ricky, who just nods again looking down at the ground before back up at me.

"sounds like a plan."

R I C K Y 'S P O V

"what was that?!" i say when nini goes back inside, immediately taking my arm off of gina.

"what?"

"you just laid one on me like it was nothing!"

"chill, i thought that's what we were doing?"

"well, yeah, but-"

"we have to make this believable, ricky. nini's not gonna change her mind about e.j if we just hold hands or something, which believe me-if we could do this sixth grade dance style, i would so prefer that. but that's not gonna do anything."

"fine. just give me a little warning next time, at least."

"fine, whatever."

LATER

"hey, you ready to go?" i tap nini on the shoulder in the living room, the party having died down considerably.

"oh, i figured you'd be taking your babe home," she mutters jokingly as we start the walk over to my car.

"oh, yeah. she..uh, already had a ride."

"i don't understand why you didn't tell me, we tell each other everything," she sighs, taking a seat in the shotgun while i get in the driver's seat.

"it's still new, i promise it wasn't intentional luvie," i say, absentmindedly putting a hand on her leg as i start up the car, some random led zeppelin song coming on when the radio starts.

"i know, but i had to find out by seeing her suck your face on a porch swing," she laughs.

i chuckle, "well, i had to find out about e.j by him texting you while we were cuddling, which already.."

"already what?"

"uhm..i don't know."

"no, say it, bowen," nini smiles while i pull out of ashlyn's property.

"it kind of struck an nerve, i guess. e.j just kind of came out of nowhere, and then you started inviting him to everything..including our movie nights.."